6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The survivors of a prison break set out on an arduous journey to retrieve some loot.
Starring: William Bendix, Arthur Kennedy, Luther Adler, William Talman, Gene EvansFilm-Noir | 100% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
1955 saw two films released within just a couple of months of each other which bore surface similarities, but which couldn’t have been more different. We’re No Angels was a big hit over the summer and early fall of 1955, a kind of madcap romp wherein three convicts (including one played by Humphrey Bogart) escape from Devil’s Island and then prove that they’re all relatively decent guys by helping out a down on their luck family. Just a few months prior to the breezy Bogart outing's opening, another film dealing with a bunch of prisoners escaping from the veritable joint was released, but it took a decidedly more dramatic, even overtly violent, approach to the basic setup. Crashout is notable for giving character actor William Bendix, a star who for many at the time was probably most associated with the television comedy Life of Riley and who in fact might have been perfectly at home in the humorous environs of We’re No Angels, one of his most bristling and unforgettable dramatic lead roles. Bendix plays psychopathic murderer and bank robber Van Duff (eagle eyed viewers will note his wanted poster identifies him as Vance Duff), a desperate soul who takes part in a massive prison break, but who ends up being one of only six to actually make it out alive (albeit badly wounded). Duff is surrounded by what might be termed the dirty half dozen or so of equally desperate men, but he makes a Faustian bargain with them that he’ll split the still stashed loot from his bank heist if they can get a doctor to come treat his wounds. That sets Crashout on a rather reckless journey where various characters have to deal not just with an encroaching manhunt, but with their increasingly tense interrelationships that begin fraying at the seams.
Crashout is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. It might seem a little odd that a relatively small scale, "non glamorous" outing like Crashout would have been granted a "widescreen" release in what was then still the early days of the format, but the added frame space allows director Foster to establish wide panoramas, especially during several important establishing shots as the convicts may their way through various locales. The elements here are in decent enough shape, with only the typical flecks and specks showing up from time to time. There are, however, some occasional inconsistencies. Compare for example the screenshots of Marshall Thompson (position 2) and Kennedy and Evans (position 10) poking their heads over the berm. In both cases, you'll note increased softness and grain, if not downright digital noise, as well as less pleasing contrast. Additionally one really rather odd thing is that on three or four occasions, there are what appear to be optical enlargements of individual moments (in lieu of actual close-ups). These look completely strange, with noticeably degraded image and some swarming digital noise. Why this approach was taken is anyone's guess, but it's a slightly distracting aspect to what is otherwise a generally solid if unspectacular high definition presentation (it seems especially odd in at least one instance, where Kennedy and Michaels are already in close-up, and then there's just a brief enlargement of Kennedy for a second or two—see screenshot 17 for an example). (There's a chance that the aforementioned berm moments are also optical enlargements, but it seems strange considering how "wide" those shots are.) This is at times a rather surprisingly grainy outing, which if nothing else confirms Olive's tradition of not digitally scrubbing their releases. Aside from the anomalies listed above, contrast is otherwise very strong throughout this enterprise, helping making the nighttime scenes nicely distinct, with better than average shadow detail. There is some noticeable motion judder in a couple of pans, especially early in the film.
Crashout features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that has more than usual amount of background hiss, especially in the opening few minutes, but which is otherwise not problematic in any major way. Dialogue and Leith Stevens' bombastic score both sound fine, if obviously quite shallow. Dynamic range is rather wide throughout this film.
No supplements are presented on this Blu-ray disc.
Crashout is a really interesting character study, and it affords a half dozen great actors a chance to strut their stuff, in at least a couple of cases in rather unusual roles. The film is alternately predictable and frankly a bit ludicrous (especially with regard to the romantic subplots), but it's rarely dull. This Blu-ray has some occasionally problematic video, but it still comes Recommended.
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